Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Performance Goals = Agency Success!

NOVA Parks (Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) has just taken the next step in becoming a truly high
performance agency. It is all about boiling the strategic goals of the
organization down to individual duties and making specific people accountable to
achieving measurable goals.

Since 2007 we have had strategic plans that outlined the
transformative steps that would build a stronger more effective park agency. In
2012 we generated our current 5 year plan. These plans have measurable results,
and are tracked every six months to see how we are progressing. The results have
been amazing! Becoming a goal oriented organization has resulted in new parks
being acquired and developed, new programs, innovative facilities, cutting edge
marketing and communications, and more.

Setting goals and achieving them has the added benefit of
build morale and a sense of great momentum within the organization. It is hard
to quantify this “X factor” but it is significant!

This month we took this to the next level, and everyone had
very specific and measurable goals set for their individual performance. We have
120 full time employees and they all have goals now. The 72 that are grade 13
and above have more detailed measurable goals that relate to our current
Strategic Plan. These are goals that go far beyond just doing a ‘good job.’
They are specific and they require staff to step outside the day-to-day and
work on those transformative steps.

Based on how our agency performs financially over the coming
year, there may be a pool of funds for performance incentives. Based on how
individuals achieve their performance goals they can be eligible to participate
in the performance incentive program.

This is organizational development:

Start with a mission & vision

Develop a Strategic Plan that identifies
the transformational steps that will lead to a stronger organization to better
service to the public

Develop individual goals based on the
Strategic Goals and hold people actable to results

Reward great performance

Build energy and momentum for the next round of
goals setting – Start over again

I could not be prouder of the remarkable group of professionals that help this agency continue to exceed all expectations. Real teamwork is built over years, and is the result of a history of achieving goals. Implementing this ambition program of developing meaningful goals for everyone was an enormous task. It was done both on time and with great quality! Congratulations to all those involved.

About Me

I am the Executive Director of NOVA Parks (Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority). Prior to that, I was the President of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust. NOVA Parks is a regional park system made up of three Counties and three Cities in Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church). NVRPA operates 30+ park and owns over 11,000 acres.
My family moved to Fairfax County when I was 1, so I am close to a native. I have a bachlors degree from St. Andrews University in N.C. and a masters degree from George Mason University. I also have a Certificate of Professional Development from the Wharton School of Business at UPA. I served on the Board of Regents for the NRPA Revenue Development and Management School, and am on the Board of Directors for Visit Fairfax.I am an Executive in Residense at George Mason University for their Recreation Management Program.
I also published two books one on leadership and the Civil War called "Lead Like a General." The other book is "High Performance Agencies: The Entrepreneurial Model for Public Park, Recreation and Tourism Organizations."